New facility marks an important milestone for company on the occasion of its 40th year of operations in the UAE
Kuehne + Nagel UAE, which established a regional hub in Dubai South in 2006, opened its new warehouse extension in the Logistics District in Dubai South. HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC), led the inauguration of the new 10,000 sqm warehouse.
The new warehouse is intended for high-value industries that the company serves in the UAE and the region, furthering boosting Dubai’s global competitiveness through sophisticated infrastructure and facilities in the logistics sector.
Through the Logistics District’s range of real estate solutions and a facilitative approach to meeting international and national regulations, Kuehne + Nagel UAE has successfully expanded its facility serving key sectors such as aerospace and other high-tech industries. It has also enabled the integrated supply chain company to further grow its pharmaceutical operations in line with international guidelines in governance, risk and compliance standards.
“This move further reflects the attractiveness of the Logistics District as an ideal environment for regional expansion and a strategic location to connect to the global markets with its easy access to various ports of entry, including air, sea and land,” commented Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, DACC and Dubai South
Dubai South’s Logistics District is fast becoming the supply chain capital for international markets, given the convenience, proximity and easy access to seaports, airports and major roads.
Middle East significant
“We recognize the tremendous growth potential of the Middle East and situating our operations in Logistics District is the ideal choice to drive growth for our customers and significantly contributing to the efficiency in their value chain,” affirmed Thorsten Pook, Managing Director of Kuehne + Nagel UAE and Oman.
According to Pook, the new warehouse facility is spread over an area of 10,000 sqm, built with one main chamber as the general storage area and a mezzanine chamber. The new building is also equipped with the latest warehousing technology and has 10 docking stations and one drive in door with a ramp for aerospace materials and large engines.
The new amenity marks the completion of Phase 3 of Kuehne + Nagel’s expansion spree in the region following the upgrades to Phase 1 (16,000sqm) in 2008 and Phase 2 (15,000sqm) in 2012. Pook noted with pride that the company was the first entrant to go operational in Dubai South and a pioneer in Dubai Logistics City.
“With 41,000sqm of functional space we have advantages of scale. We leverage our experience and expertise to provide a comprehensive suite of services to a mix of clients in the region comprising consumer products, high-tech, aviation, aerospace and pharma industries,” explained Pook.
He further asserted that despite challenges, new business is driving growth and the company is in expansion mode as the current warehouse extension demonstrates. “We still have land for an additional 40,000sqm of potential storage space as the forerunner to Phase 4 growth,” added Pook.
“Meanwhile, we are making technological and IT advancements in the manner we conduct our business and provide end-to-end sophisticated solutions for the logistics and supply chain industry. We will stay the course and continue to provide quality solutions for our clientele,” assured Erwin Wittemaier, President, Kuehne + Nagel Management Middle East who oversees the company’s operations in 21 countries in the Middle East and Africa.
